Work holder



0ct. 7, 1947. E, MEAD 2,428,496

WORK 'HOLDERl FiledvJan. l0', 1944 laefzz: @w26 E Wie@ y Patented Oct. 7, 1947 WORK HOLDER Theodore fMead, LWlmette, Ill., ,vassignor :to @MeadSpecialtiesv Qompanynlnw .remuneration cofilllinois ApplicationJanualyfilD, 1944;Seria1=No."517;640

10.Claims. (01.; 279:4)

r1 This inventlonrelatesfto -work holden-andy vmore particularly toV apparatus' for-holding a work piece during a machining operation.

fOne off the objects-oftheinventionfisto provide a1work holder -whicl'ris ver-y compact; ofminimum f heightfandmade up iof a minimum number Vof parts.

Anotherobject off-the invention'is to-provide a .swork holder-which 1- ;is operated V'by fluid pressure =to clamp aivvork' piecefduring -a --machining operation-wand" to=e-ject= theowork-piece luponA completionfoff'the operation.

l:Stille/another objectfietoprovidea worky holder in which fluid islcirculatedthroughftheplamping: parts; for cleaning orf-lubrication "The :f above v:and other: yobjectsand advantages willibe more readily apparent from-thefollowing description when 4read in 'connection -wit-h the accompanyingrdrawing,;in:whieh- `Figure 1 Ais -a-topfplan View f of -aworkkholder embodying Lthe winvention;

YFigure l2- is-abottom A-plan- 'viewrand Figure *3 is -an enlarged; central section p njhe lin ev1343of1igure 1.

'The-work holder asshown, compriseska rectangular hollow base I Y adapted tof be supportedon thepwork.' table of vva*rnaicnineand Whchtmaybe held in place' thereonlby screwsprpthelike;'Dassing through' lugs I 'I :on', tl1ev base. Above the base a main budyvisomounted includ-ing anenlareed ylin'drical portonlz formed with a., cylindrical bore I3 andhaving, atubu1arextension. I 4. rofreduoed T diameter extending upwardly therefrom. Theextension l-4 .c arries`at its .upperend afclamping ringfl 5-l1avingy a conical Lcentral bore therein.

"Within the bore L3; there istslidaloly`- mounted a piston, l B Which is.forme.d with a1 tubular neck l1., fitting. slidablytinthe;,extension/1:4. `Thepistoncarries..a;nackingcl .workingzagainst the,4 inner surface ofthe bore J3. f-,Aasimilar-packing t9 isconnectedftoethe body-,I2 tQeeaLaround the neck. I'l` of tthepiston. fPreferably -an-oil rinor like packing 2| is provided on :the-neck H'to preventleakaee nf;,oilaround:the neck-into the bore.

Ay clampingmember, v2 2! is-` securedzin the neck and isiormed With-azplurality oi; Jaws having conicatouter surfaces v-indicatedfati toycooperate with the clampingrring t5. lfAsshown, the clampingmember ,1, isScrew;,-th1'eade,d to thepiston at the lowers-end- .=ofthe neck and vis-held against accidental ydisplaoementbbyfa-key 2.4. AThe clamping member is, hollow:andffisfadapted. to receive a v.work-piece -at itsffllperf :endi- Wllichswilli-bef Sc- 2 curelyclampedinv place vvhenv the clamping; memberis moved down-into-the ring l5.

In order to limit movement of a work piece into the clamping member ,a stoprod 25 is provided extending loosely into the clamping member and adapted to rest at its lower end on the Work table. The stop rod maybemade ofvanyrdesired length to rpermitfmovement of:.a workpiece :into the clamping. member to the desiredzdistanceso that the nverticalpositionof At1f1e =wo1k piece inthe holder Kwilhbe accurately.: determined.

The stop `rodgrnay also jbe utilizedA according t0 ,theI invention ftofiei ectfatcompletedwork piece frornthe clamping-member. For; this purpose ,a collanlE is xed on the .stop rodand is engaged by one fend vof` a -,leaf spring 21- which is r rigidly attached tottlieunderf-surface of thebase vai;` :its opposite. end. l Therspring-yieldingly holds the stop roddown against the Work table. and permits itlto bemoved up for ejectirig4 the `work piece from the clampinemember.

v'Ifhe, rod ismmoved up, by alever `28pivoted intermediate its ends Ona bracket 2,9 in `the base and having aforked end straddling the stop rod below thecollar 26, The opposite end of the lever 28 is engaged by the end of a piston rod ,30 connected to aV piston working in a, cylinder 3 l, Fluid pressurernay be supplied to the cylinder 3l above the-pistonfthrougha connection-32. It will be noted Vthatl the cylinder 3l -is mounted on the upper surf-ace ofthe-base soathat-the base-can bemade -of=minimum heightand need -not be large enough to--accommodate-the cylinder.

The clamping member and awork piece carried thereby may be kept -clean andy may be .lubricated byvproviding a constant flow of lubricant through the clamping'member around the Work piece.. during operation. -Forthis purpose the lowerfen'd ,of the neckl'lis. closed by a cover 33 Which is rigidly attachedA to the piston and which extends loosely-through a central opening in the tonen the' base. fFluid such as a lubricant can pe-,supplied through a vconduit 34. Such fluid will down-upwardly f, through athe clamping member aroundjthework piecetherein to` cool and` lubricate, the parts and tofiliush any chips therefrom.

I,In-.operation when a :workpiece is inserted in the-clamping member, :fluid may be suppliedto the-bored foabove the; piston I6 through a connectionf35, This forcesthevpiston down cammingthejaws vof the clamping member inwardly into engagement with the .Work piece to vhold it securely in .place ,during a machining operation. On completion of 'the operation, pressure suppliedfto the bore is relieved permitting the piston the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims. Y

I claim:

' 1. A work holder comprising a hollow base adapted to be supported on a work table, a body supported on the base and formed with a vertical bore, a tubular extension on the body coaxial with the bore, a piston in the bore havingY a hollow neck fitting in the extension, a tubular clamping member secured in the neck and adapted to clamp a work piece, a stop rod adapted to rest on the work table and extending into the clamp'- ing member to limit movement of fa workpiece thereinto, a fluid motor mounted above the base, and means in the base connecting the motor to the stop rod whereby when the motor is energized it will move the stop rod to eject a work piece from the clamping member. Y

2. A work holder comprising a hollow base adapted to be supported on a work table, a body supported on the base and formed with la vertical bore, a tubular extension on the body coaxial with the bore, a piston in the bore having a hollowV neck tting in the extension, a tubular clamping member Vsecured in the neck and adapted to clamp a work piece, a stop rod adapted to rest on the work table and extending into the clamping member to limit movement of aV work piece thereinto, agcylinder secured to the top of the base, a piston in the cylinder having a piston rod projecting into the base, and a lever in the base connecting the stop rod and piston rod whereby movement of the last-named piston will move the stop rod to eject a work piece from the clamping member. Y 3. A work holder comprising a hollowV base adapted to be supported on a. work table, a body supported on the base and formed with a vertical bore, a tubular extension on the body coaxial with the bore, a piston in the bore having a hollow neckfitting in the extension, a tubular clamping member secured in the neck and adapted to clamp a work piece, a stop rod adapted to Vrest on the work table and extending into the clamping member to limit movement of a workpiece thereinto, a collar rigidly connected to the stop rod, a leaf spring secured to the base and engaging the collar to urge the stop rod against the work table, a lever pivotedin the lbase engaging the collar at one end, and a iiuid motor on the base engaging and moving the other end of the lever to move the stop rod to eject a work piece from the clamping member. 4. A work holder` comprising a' body formed with a bore and having a reduced tubular extension, a piston fitting in the bore having a hollow neck fitting in the extension, a clamping member secured in theneck having movable jaws to hold a work piece, and means to supply lubricant Yunder pressure through'said piston to the' interior of the neck to 'ow out past the clampingV member and work piece.

5. A work holder comprising a body formed with a vertical bore and having a reduced tubular extension extending vertically above the bore, a

piston iitting in the bore having a hollow neck fitting in the extension, sealing means sealing the neck and extension against the passage of fluid therebetween, a clamping member secured in the neck having movable jaws to clamp a work piece, the'lower end of the neck being closed, and means to supply fluid under pressure through said piston to the lower end 'of the neck to flow out past the clamping member.

6. A work holder comprising a body formed 'with a bore and having a reduced tubular ex- Y tension, a piston fitting in the bore having a Vhollow neck tting'in the extension, a tubular clamping member secured in the neck and adapted a stop rod Vextending into the clamping member to limit movement of a work piece thereinto,

meansv to move Ythe stop rod to eject a work piece fromthe clamping member, a closure for the Y lower end of the neck through which the stop rod slidably projects, and means to supply fluid to the interior of the neck to flow out past the clamping member. .f f' 'j Y 7. A work holder comprising' a hollow base adapted to be supported on a work table,` a body supported on the base and formed with a vertical bore, a tubular extension on the body coaxial with the bore, a piston in the bore', a tubular clamping member secured to said piston and having an upper end portion adapted to engage a work piece, the interior of said clamping member communicating with the space below the piston, and spring means below said piston and normallyurging said piston toward its upper position.

8. A work holder comprising a body formed with a bore having a reduced tubular extension,

a piston tting in the bore, a hollow clampingY downwardly, said hollow clamping member providing an opening communicating from the top portion of the member to the space below said piston, and resilient means urging the piston up, wardly to moveit to unclamping position lwhenl the pressure above the piston is relieved.

9. A work holder comprising a body formed` with a bore and having a reduced tubular extension, a piston tting in the bore having a hollow` neck itting in the extension, a tubular clamping membervin the neck secured to the piston and` adapted to clamp a work piece when thepistonV is moved downwardly inthe bore, said clamping member providing free communication'. between the area above the clamping member and the space below the piston, means to admit fluid under pressure to the bore above the piston toV move it downwardly, and a series of coil springs be-v neath the piston urging it upwardly to moveY itV to unclamping position whenr pressure above the.,

piston is relieved.

10. A work holder comprising a hollowbase,

and adapted to Vbe supported on a work table. a body supported on the base and formed with'a vertical bore, a tubular extension on the body coaxial with the bore, a piston in the bore, a tubular clamping member secured to the piston and ex-` tending into the tubular extension and adapted to clamp a work piece upon downward movement of said piston, means to admit iiuid under pres-A sure to the bore above the piston to move it downwardly, said tubular clamping member being in open communication with said hollow base, and resilient means urging the piston upwardly to move it to unclamping position when the pressure above the piston is relieved.

THEODORE E. MEAD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Lavoie Mar. 4, 1919 Oliver July 6, 1909 Faireld Aug. 27, 1889 McClellan Jan. 2'7, 1914 White Dec. 30, 1930 Mead Mar. 12, 1946 

